Section Four-Developments in Egypt, 1947-56

Question 1

What happened by 1947?

Answer 1

• Britain was fearful about communist Russia’s ambitions in the Middle East; an important British sphere of interest
• Britain still had 10,000 troops in the Suez Canal and still controlled Cyprus and Aden as well as financing and providing officers for the Jordanian Army, giving the illusion of a strong presence
• However when the British tried to negotiate with nationalist Arab League to resist communist infiltration, it found Arabs were not prepared to support Britain while they maintained their Suez garrisons and controlled the Sudan

Question 2

What happened in the years after 1947?

Answer 2

• King Farouk of Egypt renounced 1936 treaty and proclaimed himself King of the Sudan
• In January 1952, however, Farouk was overthrown in military coup led by Colonel Nasser

Question 3

What occurred after Colonel Nasser overthrew Farouk?

Answer 3

Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary in Churchill’s Conservative government, immediately sought to negotiate with Egypt’s new rulers and in 1953 and agreement was made on stages towards Sudanese independence; in 1954 British also agreed to phased withdrawal of troops from Suez Canal Zone over the next 20 months reflecting Britain’s financial difficulties as they could ill-afford to maintain their bases and fortify Suez garrisons to resist constant guerrilla attacks

Question 4

What did the Egyptians promise the British in return?

Answer 4

• Free access through the Suez Canal
• Maintenance of former British bases in operational condition
• To respect independence of Suez Canal Company

Question 5

What did this settlement with Egypt lead to?

Answer 5

Baghdad pact with Turkey, Pakistan, Iraq and Iran in 1955 to repel any Soviet threat to the Middle East; however Nasser refused to join this agreement

Question 6

What occurred after Nasser refused to join the Baghdad Pact?

Answer 6

Fearing that the pact threatened Egyptian dominance, Nasser turned to communist Czechoslovakia for arms and signed an alliance with Syria which was alarming for Eden

Question 7

What happened in June 1956?

Answer 7

• Nasser made himself President of Egypt and was determined to establish Egypt as the leading power in the Middle East
• He had plans for a new Egypt centred on the construction of the Aswan High Dam which he hoped to make the core of a programme of irrigation, flood control and electrification

Question 8

Who withdrew their funding from Egypt?

Answer 8

In July 1956, the USA announced they were withdrawing their funding because of Nasser’s continued association with communist powers